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Olympus and FlexDex Announce Exclusive Distribution Agreement

CENTER VALLEY, Pa.and BRIGHTON, Mi., (August 22, 2018) – Olympus, a global technology leader in designing and delivering innovative solutions for medical and surgical procedures, among other core businesses, announced today an exclusive distributorship with FlexDex, a groundbreaking medical device company that extends intuitively controlled articulation to laparoscopic instruments. Beginning immediately, FlexDex’s Needle Driver product will be exclusively distributed by Olympus in the United States. This agreement leverages Olympus’ innovative 3D laparoscopic imaging technology and FlexDex’s wristed needle-driver, with efficient design for intuitive control in minimally invasive procedures across many specialties. The combination technology can provide a suitable alternative to the costs and constrictions associated with a robotic investment.

The FlexDex Needle Driver simplifies suturing in difficult to reach areas of the abdomen through the use of intuitive, articulated movements and rotations. This platform technology employs an ingenious mechanical design to precisely translate the surgeon’s hand, wrist, and arm movements from outside the patient into corresponding movements of an end-effector inside the patient’s body. FlexDex has a three-axis gimbal that attaches to the surgeon’s wrist. Once attached, it controls a series of mechanical components that translate the movement of the surgeon’s hand to the tip of the instrument.

“Combining Olympus’ expertise in minimally invasive surgery and 3D technology with FlexDex’s unique technology for handling surgical instruments -- without the complexity and cost of a computer-aided robotic system -- will be a game changer for physicians and patients,” said Randy Clark, Group Vice President of the Surgical Division at Olympus. “We are thrilled to add FlexDex to the Olympus portfolio, furthering our progress of improving patient satisfaction, decreasing costs and improving the quality of life for patients.”

“FlexDex is excited to work with Olympus. With their world class sales force and advanced 3D technology and our revolutionary platform technology, we will redefine surgical robotics and bring the benefits of minimally invasive surgery to patients in any operating room, anytime, anywhere,” said Dr. James Geiger, CEO at FlexDex. “Hospitals are constantly under pressure to reduce cost and improve patient outcomes. Using a multi-million dollar robotic system for procedures that have low margins, often associated with fixed reimbursement, can potentially further burden providers financially. FlexDex and Olympus are uniquely positioned to offer surgeons the precision and control they desire while maintaining the balance of cost, outcome and patient benefit.”

To learn more about the FlexDex Needle Driver, please call 1-800-848-9024.

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About Olympus Medical Systems Group
Olympus is a global technology leader, crafting innovative optical and digital solutions in medical technologies; life sciences; industrial solutions; and cameras and audio products. Throughout our nearly 100-year history, Olympus has focused on being true to society and making people’s lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling.

Our Medical Business works with health care professionals to combine our innovative capabilities in medical technology, therapeutic intervention, and precision manufacturing with their skills to deliver diagnostic, therapeutic and minimally invasive procedures to improve clinical outcomes, reduce overall costs and enhance quality of life for patients. For more information, visit medical.olympusamerica.com.

About FlexDex
FlexDex is an innovative medical device company that has developed a platform technology to provide surgeons with high performance and cost effective minimally invasive surgical instruments. The Company’s focus is to enable advanced minimally invasive procedures with greater precision and efficiency bringing the benefits of minimally invasive surgery to patients throughout the world. FlexDex was developed at the University of Michigan by co-founders Shorya Awtar, Sc.D., James Geiger, MD and Greg Bowles. This platform technology enables highly intuitive, one-to-one mapping of the surgeon’s arm and hand motions to the articulating instrument inside the patient’s body. The patented “Virtual Center™” of the FlexDex platform is a simple mechanical design that, we believe, will greatly enhance the capabilities of all Minimally Invasive Surgical (MIS) instruments. The FlexDex Needle Driver, the first instrument of the FlexDex platform, has been granted the CE mark and is available for sale in the United States and internationally. For more information visit https://flexdex.com